Online Desk: The US embassy has denied that no discussions were held between home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and US Ambassador Peter Haas on road closures in Dhaka on October 28 centering the BNP grand rally.

“In the US Embassy meeting with the Home Minister today, October 22, the subject on road closures in Dhaka on October 28 was not discussed,” a statement issued on Sunday night by the embassy said.

“Ambassador Haas expressed the importance of peaceful demonstrations and interference-free participation in the political process,” the statement added.

Earlier, on Sunday, Ambassador Haas paid a courtesy call on the home minister at the secretariat in the capital.

The home minister disclosed the issues of discussion following the meeting.

He said the ambassador discussed many issues, including security during Durga Puja. The minister said Ambassador Haas had asked whether the government would close the roads in Dhaka on October 28 during the rally of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The minister also briefed the journalists what he had replied.

On October 18, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam announced a grand rally in Dhaka on October 28 as part of their one-point demand to topple the government. The party is taking massive preparation for the success of the programme.

However, the ruling Awami League is giving ‘maximum’ priority to face the grand rally of BNP.